Becoming an entrepreneur
is not for everyone. In business, there are no guarantees.
There is simply no way to eliminate all of the risks. It takes
a special person with a strong commitment and specific skills
to be successful as an entrepreneur.

Are
you ready to start your own business? Use the Readiness
Assessment Guide to better understand how prepared you are.

Readiness Assessment Guide

This guide is designed
to help you better understand your readiness for starting
a small business. It is not a scientific assessment
tool. Rather, it is a tool that will prompt you with
questions and assist you in evaluating your skills,
characteristics and experience --- as they relate to
your readiness for starting a business.

The Assessment Guide has twenty five questions. Your
responses will be evaluated at completion of the questions.

Readiness Questions

Yes

No

General

1. Do you think you are ready
to start a business?

2. Do you have support for your
business from family and friends?

3. Have you ever worked in a business
similar to what you are starting?

4. Would people that know you
say you are entrepreneurial?

5. Have you ever taken a small
business course or seminar?

Personal Characteristics

6. Are you a leader?

7. Do you like to make your own
decisions?

8. Do others turn to you for help
in making decisions?

9. Do you enjoy competition?

10. Do you have will power and
self discipline?

11. Do you plan ahead?

12. Do you like people?

13. Do you get along with others?

14. Would people that know you
say you are outgoing?

Personal Conditions

15. Are you aware that running
your own business may require working more than 12
hours a day, six days a week and maybe Sundays and
holidays?

16. Do you have the physical stamina
to handle a “self-employed” workload and
schedule?

17. Do you have the emotional
strength to deal effectively with pressure?

18. Are you prepared, if needed,
to temporarily lower your standard of living until
your business is firmly established?

19. Are you prepared to lose a
portion of your savings?

Skills and Experience

20. Do you know what basic skills
you will need in order to have a successful business?

21. Do you possess those skills?

22. Do you feel comfortable using
a computer?

23. Have you ever worked in a
managerial or supervisory capacity?

24. Do you think you can be comfortable
hiring, disciplining and delegating tasks to employees?

25. If you discover you do not
have the basic skills needed for your business, will
you be willing to delay your plans until you have
acquired the necessary skills?